Maria Valentino, Poughkeepsie, NYMember Since May 2010Artist Statement I'm not happy unless I have a trip planned in the future, near or far. While "reality" me currently works in the Corporate world, "fantasy" me is a travel photographer. I have pursued photography since I could hold a camera.

In exotic and not-so-exotic locales, when everyone else is often found in one place, snapping away, I can be found crawling under bushes, dodging traffic or leaning out over cliffs to get the shot that appeals to my slightly off-kilter view of the world. Straight on shot of the Eiffel Tower? Just OK. Shot of the Eiffel Tower through garden flowers that involved evading guards? Perfect!

I've staged several successful local shows and receptions of my travel photography. I also currently sell on the stockphoto websites of iStockphoto and Shutterstock. I hope you enjoy my portfolio. Perhaps it will someday help my reality and fantasy selves become one, living the dream of wandering the world with a camera.